Reversible fuel pump



Feb. 1, 1938. M. w.-' HUBER I REVERSIBLE FUEL PUMP Filed Aug. 15, 1955 3Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 1, 19.38,

M. w; HUBER I 2,107,152

REVERSIBLE FUEL PUMP 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 13, 1936 Feb. 1, 1938.M. w. HUBER REVERSIBLE FUEL PUMP Filed Aug. 15, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 3Patented Feb. 1, 1938 aavrasrsm FUEL PUMP Matthew W. Huber, Chicago,IlL, assignor to Tuthill Pump Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation ofIllinois Application August 13, 1936, Serial No. 95,797

7 Claims.

The invention relates to rotary pumps such, for example, as those whichare adapted for delivering fuel under pressure to oil-burners.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an improved pump ofthe rotary type, which is readily adaptable for right or left-handrotation, that is, clockwise or counterclockwise drive, withoutrequiring any reconstruction or change in the inlet and outlet piping.This makes it possible readily to apply the pump to a right or left-handelectric motor.

Another object of the inventionis to provide a rotary pump which isgenerally of new and improved construction and may be manufactured at alow and reasonable cost.

Other objects of the invention and the various advantages andcharacteristics of the present pump will be apparentfrom a considerationof the following detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features which arehereinafter set forth and are more particularly defined by claims at theconclusion hereof.

In the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification ordisclosure and in which like numerals of reference denote correspondingparts throughout the several views: Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectionalview showing a pump embodying the invention with a strainer and valveunit attached thereto. Fig. 2 is an elevation of thevalve-body showingthe face having the ducts formed therein. Figs. 3 and 4 are perspectivesof the reversible plate between the pump-housing and the valve-body, andillustrating the ports and ducts therein by which the flow of oil may becontrolled for right or left-hand rotation of the pump. Fig. 5 is asection on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1. \Fig. 6 is 'a horizontal section onthe line 6-6 of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a section on the line 'l-1 of Fig. 1.Fig 8 is a section on the line' 88 of Fig. 5. Fig. 9 is a face view ofthe reversible oil delivery plate for the pump, the ducts in the face ofthe pump-housing and the face of the valve-body being indicated indotted lines, the plate being in position for rotation of the pump incounter-clockwise direction. Fig. 10 is a similar view illustrating theplate in position to control the delivery of the oil to and from thepump when the pump is rotated in clockwise direction. Fig. 11 is avertical central section illustrating a modified form of the invention.

The invention is exemplified in an oil-pumping unit comprising apump-housing l0 having an able reservoir or supply tank (not shown); astrainer l3 secured by a bolt l4 against the bottom of the housing ill;a vertical duct H"- in housing in for delivering the oil to the inletside of strainer l3; a vertical duct IS in the housing for deliveringthe oil after it has been strained to the suction side of the pump; anda valvestructure 06 to which the pressure side of the pump delivers theoil for delivery to the burner.

The pump is of the internal gear type and comprises an externallytoothed gear H, a driveshaft it to which gear H is fixed; aneccentrically disposed rotor 20 which includes gear-teeth 20 meshingwith gear H and a ring 20 mounted around the shaft 58 and journaled inan annular groove in a sleeve 2i which is fixed in the pumphousing; anda crescent 22 between the crescent shaped space between the gear I! androtor-teeth 20 and integrally formed with sleeve 2!. The rotor 20corresponds in diameter with, and fitsin,' a cylindrical pump-chamber23. The chamber 23 containing gear I l, rotor 29 and crescent 22, isclosed at its inner end by sleeve 2! and at its outer end by a plate 2%which fits between the flat end-face 25 of pump-housing Ill and the face29 of the body 2! of valve-unit l6. Bolts 28 ex tend through lugs on thevalve-body 2! and holes 28 in plate 241 and into the pump-housing, toclamp the plate between the flat face 29 on said valve body and the face25 of the pump-housing.

The pump is adapted for rotation in either direction and to put the oilunder pressure in transit from either side to the other, according tothe directionof rotation of the pump. When the pump is rotated in agiven direction, the suction or inlet is at one side, and the pressureor discharge is at the other side. When the direction of rotation isreversed, the inlet and discharge 'sides are reversed. By reason of'this adaptability, and the hereinafter described means for reversingthe inlet and discharge ducts for controlling the oil according to thedirection of rotation of the pump-gears. the pump may be directly drivenby a right or left-hand electric motor.

Plate 24 covers the outer end of the pumpchamber and embodies ports forconducting the oil to the suction side and from the pressure side of thepump. This plate is reversible and has embodied therein ports forcontrolling the oil, which are reversible into proper correlation withthe pump, according to its direction of rotation. When side-face 25 ofplate 24 is positioned against the face 25 of pump-housing Ill, the oilwill be directed to enter the chamber 23 when the pump is rotating inone direction and when the plate is reversed to bring'its other sideface24 against the face 25 of the pump-housing, the ports therein will bereversed to supply oil to and discharge it from opposite sides of thepump according to the rotation of the pump in the opposite direction.

Plate 24 has formed therein a pair of symmetrically arrangedkidney-shaped slots 34, 35 which are adapted to communicate with thesuction and pressure sides of the pump chamber 23 and function as aninlet or suction port and a pressure or discharge port. These slots 34,35 are adapted to function at either side of the pump according to theposition of the plate 24 and the direction of rotation of the pump. Whenthe face 24 of plate 24 abuts and is secured against face 25 of thepump-housing, the slot 34 will function as an inlet or suction port atthe suction side of the pump and the slot 35 will function as anoutletport at the pressure side, while the pump is rotating in onedirection. When the reverse face 24 of plate 24 is placed against thepump-casing, the slots 34, 35 will be reversed from one side to theother, so they will be positioned to' function for reverse rotation ofthe pump.

Duct l5 (Fig. 1) inthe pump-housing, through which oil 'is drawn bysuction, has an angular end I5 which terminates in an arcuate recess l5at the face 25 of the pump-housing. Plate 24 has a through-port 3| whichis off-set with respect to the vertical center of the pump and registerswith either end of the arcuate recess I5 to conduct oil through theplate 24 while the latter is in either of its reversible positions. Theface of the valve-body 21, which fits against either face of the plate24, is provided with a pair of separated grooves 32, 33 which aresymmetrically disposed on opposite sides of the vertical center of thepump. Groove 32 comprises a pair of substantially concentric arcuatebranches 32 and 32 which are connected at the top, as at 32. Groove 33comprises a pair of substantially concentric arcuate branches 33 and33', the upper ends of which are connected at 33. The branches 32 and33- of grooves 32 and 33 in the face of the valve-body 21, conform tothe kidney-shaped slots 34, 35 in plate 24 and are adapted to registerwith said slots while the plate is in either of its positions.

Port 3| in plate 24 is adapted to conduct oil from either end of arcuaterecess l5 through the plate. With the plate in one of its positions,port 3| will establish communication between inlet duct I5 and the lowerend of arcuate groove 32 in the valve-body 21, for the delivery of oilthrough recess branch 32 to the kidney-shaped slot 34 in plate 24 atthat side which constitutes the suction side of the pump while rotatingin one direction. When the plate 24 is reversed, its port 3| willestablish communication with the other end of groove |5 and the branch33 of recess 33 in the valve-body 21 for conducting the oil throughbranches 33 and 33 to the kidney-shaped. slot 34 which is located at theother side of the pump which then functions as the suction side of thepump during reverse rotation of the pump.

Plate 24 is provided with a port 36 which extends therethrough andserves as a discharge port at one side of the pump when the plate 24isin one of its positions, and at the other side of the pump when theplate is reversed,

at oneside and to discharge at the other side A pair ofdischarge-grooves 31, 33 are formed in the face 25 of the pump-housingand are symmetrically disposed with respect '-to the axis of the pump.The discharge port 36 of plate 24 is adapted to register alternately.with the upper end of either of these grooves 31, 38, according to theposition of the plate 24. When the plate is in one of its positions,port 36 will register with the upper end of groove 31 in the face of thepump-housing, to deliver oil under pressure into said groove. When theplate is reversed, port 36 will register with the upper end of groove 38to deliver oil under pressure into that groove. Plate 24 is providedwith a hole 40 which extends therethrough and is adapted to registeralternately with the lower end of eitherof the ports 31, 38 according tothe position of the plate 24 and its adaption to the direction ofrotation of the gear-pump. These holes 36 and 40 are provided only atone side of the plate so that when the plate is in one of its positionsthe discharge will be through the groove 33 and when the plate is in itsother position the discharge will be through groove 31. The valvebody isprovided with ports 4|, 42 disposed on opposite sides of the center ofthe pump, and adapted, respectively, to deliver oil from port 40 in theplate 24 when the latter is in either of its positions, according to thedirection of rotation of the pump. With the pump operating in eitherdirection, the oil will be discharged under pressure through port 40from the pressure side and either of the ports 4|, 42 in the valve-bodyto the valve-chamber 43.

The operation of the pump mechanism thus far described will be asfollows: When the driveshaft I8 is driven in counter-clockwisedirection, I

the face 24 of plate 24 will be secured against the face 25 of thepump-housing and its face 24 will be against face 29 of. the valve-body21 so the ports and ducts in the pump. plate and said body, will bepositioned, asdiagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 9. At such time oilwill pass to groove 32 in the valve-body, port 36 in plate 24,

groove 31 in the face 25 of the pump-housing, port 40 in plate 24 andport 4| in the valve-body to the valve-chamber 43.

When the pump is driven in clockwise direction by the motor, the plate24 will be reversed so its face 24 will abut on the face 25 of thepump-housing l0 and its face 24 will abut the face 25 of valve-body 21to bring its ports into the position illustrated in Fig. 10 of thedrawings. Upon removal of the bolts 26, this plate 24 can be readilyreversed for this purpose. In such reversed position, oil will pass tothe suction-side of the pump (then the left-hand side of the pumpchamber 23 in Fig. 10) through duct i5, duct end l5 and one branch ofrecess |5 port 3| in plate 24, branches 32*, 32, 32. of groove 32 in theface of valve-body 21, and kidhey-shaped port 34 in plate 24. The oilfrom the pressure-side of the pump will pass through kidney-shaped port35 in plate 24, branches 33", 33 of groove 33 in the valve-body 21, port36 in plate 24, groove 38 in the face 25 of the pump housing, port 40 inplate 24, and duct 42 in the valve-body to' the valve-chamber 43. Whenthe plate 24 is in one of its positions, for example that shown in Fig.9, there will be no communication between the groove 38 in thepump-housing and the groove 33 and port 42 in the valvebody at thesuction-side of the pump and when the plate is reversed for the oppositerotation of the pump, communication between the groove 31 in thepump-housing and groove 32 in the valvebody, is cut off by plate 24. Asa result, a mere reversal of the plate 24 is the only change necessaryto adapt the pump for rotation in opposite directions while auni-directional flow of oil is maintained. An arrow 24 is provided onthe top edge of plate 24 toindicate the correct setting of the platewith respect to the direction of rotation of. the pump.

A pipe 44 is coupled to thelower end of the valve-body 21 to deliver theoil under pressure to the oil-burner or for any other use. A plunger 45is slidably mounted in the valve-body 2?. A conical valve M5 is fixedto'the lower end of the plunger to control the delivery of the fuel fromchamber 43 to the pipe 44. The plunger, is also formed with avalve-member 41. An adjustable spring 48 is applied to force the plungernormally downwardly. Valve-member il is located above thepressure-chamber 43. When the pressure in chamber 43 exceeds apredetermined point, it

will force the plunger 45 and its member 4? upwardly and open valve 46,to supply the fuel under pressure-pipe 44 to its point of use. Thisaction is caused by the pressure developed in chamber 43 by fuel fromthe pressure-side of the 5 pump while it is rotating in eitherdirection. In order to permit any excess fuel delivered into-pressure-chamber 43 to be by-passed back to the supply tank, a port 49is formed in valve-body 2? between its face 29 and the cylinder in whichslide the plunger 45 and valve member 4?, said valve moving upwardly toopen the port 49 when the pressure in chamber 43 becomes excessive. Fromport 49 the oil is conducted first through a port 50 which is centrallydisposed in plate 2% 5 and communicates with the port 49 while the plate24 is in either of its alternative positions, and thence through a port5! '(Fig. 7) in the pump-housing which leads to a pipe 52 for bypassingthe oil to the supply tank.

,- The pump may be equipped'with means for controlling it so that no oilis supplied to the burner unless the pump and its shaft it are driven ator in excess of a predetermined speed by an electric motor (not shown)as described 55 and illustrated in detail in application seriallynumbered 89,913, filed July 10, 1936, by Herbert E. Kempton, to whichreference may be had for the details of construction thereof.

This means comprises a sleeve-valve 55 on a non-rotatable drum 56 whichis longitudinally movable on the pump-shaft l8 and a series ofcentrifugal balls 51 which are carried in a cage 58 rotatable with thepump-shaft l8, and engage a conoidal surface 59 on the drum. Valve 55,when the pump is at rest, is positioned to open a port 50 in an annulargroove iii in the pump-shaft, which leads toan axial duct 62 extendingto the inner end of said shaft and to the reversible plate 24. When thepump-shaft acquires a predetermined speed, sufficient to cause the usualblower to supp y the required amount of air for combustion to theburner, centrifugal force will force the balls 51 outwardly against theconoidal surface 58 and slide the valve 55 on shaft l8 into position toclose the port 60.

Drum 56 is normally pressed by a spring 63 to force the balls 51 towardthe axis of shaft II. This spring is interposed between a collar 64 Iwhich engages drum 5B and a conoidal collar 53 engaged by a screw 66 sothat the pressure of the spring to resist the centrifugal force of theballs 51, may be varied as desired. Plate 24 is provided on each of itsfaces with a-g'roove 31 leading from the discharge port 35 in the casinginto registry with, and terminating at, the axial port 62 in pump-shaftl8. By providing a groove 61 on each of the faces of plate 24,communication will be established between the discharge port 35 and thesleeve-valve 55 while the plate 24 is mounted for rotation of the pumpin either direction.

The operation of this means for by-passing the fuel through thepump-shaft until the pump reaches a predetermined speed, is as follows:Normally, valve 55 will be positioned to open the port 60; when thepump-shaft I8 is driven, the pump will be rotated and the groove 61 inthe face of the plate 24, which lies against the face 25 of thepump-casing, will deliver oil from the discharge port 35 through theaxial duct 32 in the pumpshaft l8, port 60 and annular groove 3| intothe chamber 68 in the pump-housing, from which it will flow through aduct 69 to the return or bypass pipe 52. As soon as the pump-shaftreaches the desired predetermined speed for operating the blower todeliver sufiicient air to the burner for proper combustion, and at whichthe delivery of fuel should begin, balls 51, under centrifugal force,will shift the drum 56 axially and slide sleeve 55 over annular groove6| and thus cut off the escape of oil from duct 62 in the pump-shaft 18,to the chamber 68. Thereupon, the full fiow of oil under pressure willbe delivered from the pump to the valve-chamber Q3.

In .order to prevent the plunger 45 and its valve 46 from being liftedor opened until the pump has reached the desired speed or while thesleevevalve 55 is open, a duct i0 is formed in the pumphousing betweenchamber 68 and the face 25 of the pump-housing. This duct registers witha central port M (Fig. 1) in plate 24. A- recess 12 is formed in theface 29 of valve-body 21 in communication with port H and a duct 13delivers oil from recess 12 into the valve-body on the upper side ofplunger 45. As a result of this connection, part of the oil in chamber69 flows into the plunger-chamber of valve-body 21 and builds upsufiicient pressure to retain the valves 53 and 41 in their closedposition until sleeve-valve 55 is closed, and then all of the oil fromthe pump will be delivered under pressure into the chamber 43 of thevalve-unit iii.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 11, the valve-unit is eliminatedand a cover-plate I3 is substituted therefor. In this form of theinvention,..the plate l3 has its inner face, which is adapted to abutagainst the reversible plate 24,-

provided with grooves 32, 33, with their branches of the form describedin connection with the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 10, and ports49, for delivering fuel under pressure from port 40 in plate 24 to a.chamber 43 in plate iii for conduction to a valve or any other element.In this form of the invention the recess 12, ports I3 and 49 areomitted.

The invention exemplifies a fuel-pump unit, which includes a reversibleplate whereby the pump can be quickly adapted for operation by a right,or left-hand motor and in the field, without reconstruction. Also apump-unit of this type which is simple in construction and can beproduced at a, low cost.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details setforth, since these may be modified within the scope of the appendedclaims, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A pump unit comprising in combination, a pump housing having a faceat one side and a pump chamber opening on to said face, means forming aninlet duct for fluid terminating adjacent to said face, a reversiblerotor in the pump chamber, an element having a face positioned in spacedrelation with said face of the pump housing and provided with a pair ofgrooves therein, and a plate between the two faces having a suctionslot, 9. pressure slot and a fluid inlet port, and adapted when disposedin one position between said faces and. the rotor is driven in onedirection to have the inlet port thereof register with and effectcommunication between the inlet duct and one of the grooves in theelement and also to have the suction slot register with and effectcommunication between said one groove and the suction side of the pumpchamber and the pressure slot register with the pressure side of thepump chamber, and when disposed in a reverse positionbetween said facesand the rotor is driven in the opposite direction to have the inlet portthereof register with and effect communication between the inlet ductand the other groove in the element and also to have the suction slotregister with and eifect communication between said other groove and thesuction side of the pump chamber and the pressure slot register with thepressure side of said chamber.

2. A pump unit comprising in combination, a pump housing having a faceat one side and a pump chamber opening onto said face and also having aninlet duct for fluid leading to said face, a reversible rotor in thepump chamber, an element having a face positioned in spaced relationwith said face of the pump housing and provided with a pair of elongatedgrooves therein, and a plate between the two faces having a suctionslot, a pressure slot and a fluid inlet port and adapted when disposedin one direction between said faces and the rotor is driven in onedirection to have the inlet'port thereof register with and effectcommunication between the inlet duct in the housing and one end of oneof the grooves in the element, and also to have the suction slotregister with and effect communication between the other end of said onegroove and the suction side of the pump chamber and the pressure slotregister with the pressure side of the pump chamber, and when disposedin a reverse position between said faces and the rotor is driven in theopposite direction to have the inlet port thereof register with andeffect communication between the inlet duct and one end of the othergroove in the element and also to have the suction slot register withand effect communication between the other end of said other groove andthe suction side of the pump chamber and the pressure slot register withthe pressure side of said chamber.

3. A pump unit comprising in combination, a pump housing having a faceat one side and a pump chamber opening onto said face and also having aninlet duct for fluid leading to said face, a reversible rotor in thepump chamber, an element having a face positioned in spaced relationwitlrsaid face of the pump housing and provided with a pair of groovestherein, and a plate between the two faces having a suction slot, apressure slot, a fluid inlet port, and a fluid outlet port, and adaptedwhen disposed in one position between said faces and the rotor is drivenin one direction to have the inlet port thereof register port registerwith said other groove, and when disposed in a reversed position betweensaid faces and the rotor is driven in the opposite direction to have theinlet port thereof register with and eifect communication between theinlet duct and said other groove and the suction slot register with andeffect communication between said other groove and the suction side ofthe pump chamber, and also to have the pressure slot register with andeffect communication between the pressure side of said chamber and saidone groove and the outlet port register with said one groove.

4. A pump unit comprising in combination, a pump housing having a faceat one side and a pump chamber opening onto said face and also having aninlet duct for fluid leading tosaid face, a reversible rotor in the pumpchamber, an element having a face positioned in spaced relation withsaid face of the pump housing and provided with a pair of elongatedgrooves therein, a plate between the two faces having a suction slot, apressure slot, a fluid inlet port, and a fluid outlet port, and adaptedwhen disposed in one position between said faces and the rotor is drivenin one direction to have the inlet port thereof register with and effectcommunication between the inlet duct and one end of one of the groovesin the element and the suction slot register with and effectcommunication between the other end of said one groove and the suctionside of the pump chamber and also to have the pressure slot registerwith and effect communication between the pressure side of the'pump andone end of the other groove and the outlet port register with the otherend of said other groove, and when disposed in a reverse positionbetween said faces and the rotor is driven in the opposite direction tohave the inlet port thereof register with and effect communicationbetween the inlet duct and said other end of said other groove and thesuction slot register with and effect communication between said one endof said other groove and the suction side of the pump andalso to havethe pressure slot thereof register with and effect communication betweenthe pressure side of the chamber and said other end of said one grooveand the outlet port register with said one end of said one groove, andmeans for discharging fluid from the outlet port when the plate is ineither of its positions.

5. A pump unit comprising in combination, a pump housing having a faceat one side thereof and a pair of fluid outlet grooves therein and alsohaving a pump chamber opening onto said face and an inlet duct for fluidleading to said face, a reversible rotor in the pump chamber, an elementhaving a face positioned in spaced relation with said face of the pumphousing and provided with a pair of grooves therein, and a plate betweenthe two faces having a suction slot, a pressure slot, a fluid inlet portand a fluid outlet port, and adapted when disposed in one positionbetween said faces and the rotor is driven in one direction tohavethe'inlet port thereof register with and effectcommu'nication'between the inlet duct and one of the grooves in theelement and the suction slot register with and effect communicationbetween said one groove in the element and the suction side of the pumpchamber and also to have the pressure slot register with the pressureside of the pump chamber and the other groove of the element and theoutlet port register with said other groove of the element and one ofthe grooves in the pump housing, and when disposed in a reverse positionbetween said faces and the rotor is driven in the opposite direction tohave the inlet port thereof register with and effect communicationbetween the inlet duct and said, other groove in the element and thesuction slot register with and effect communication between said othergroove in the element and the suction side of the pump chamber and alsoto have the pressure slot register with the pressure side of the chamberand said one groove in the element and the outlet port register withsaid one groove in the element and the other groove in the pump housing.

6. A pump unit comprising in combination a piunp housing having a faceat one side with a pair of grooves therein and also having a pumpchamber opening onto said face between the grooves and an inlet duct forfluid leading to said face, a reversible rotor in the pump chamber, anelement having a face positioned in spaced relation with said face ofthe pump housing and provided with a pair of grooves in said face and apair of fluid outlet ducts leading from said face, and a plate betweenthe two faces having a suction slot, a pressure slot, a fluid inletport, and a pair of fluid outlet ports, and adapted when disposed in oneposition between said faces and the rotor is driven in one direction tohave the inlet port thereof register with and effect" communicationbetween the inlet duct and one of the grooves of the element and thesuction slot register with and effect communication between said onegroove of the element and the suction side of the pump chamber and alsoto have the pressure slot register with the pressure side of between theother end of said one groove in the pump housing and one of the outletducts in the element, and adapted when disposed in a reverse positionbetween said faces and the rotor is driven in the opposite direction tohave the inlet port thereof register with and effect communicationbetween the inlet duct in the housing and said other groove in theelement and the suction slot register with and eflect communicationbetween said other groove in the element and the suction side of thepump chamber and also to have the pressure slot register with and effectcommunication between the pressure side of said chamber and said onegroove in the element and said one outlet port register with and effectcommunication between said one groove in the element and one end of theother groove in the pump housing and said other outlet port registerwith and effect communication between the other end of said other groovein the pump housing and the other outlet duct in the element.

7. A pump unit comprising in combination, a pump housing having a faceat one side and a pump chamber opening onto said face, means forming aninlet duct for fluid terminating adjacent to said face, a reversiblerotor in the pump chamber, an element having a face positioned in spacedrelation with said face of the pump housing and provided with a pair ofgrooves therein, a plate between the two faces having a suction slot, apressure slot and a fluid inlet port, and adapted when disposed in oneposition between said faces and the rotor is driven in one direction tohave the inlet port thereof register with and effect communicationbetween the inlet duct and one of the grooves in the element and also tohave the suction slot register with and effect communication betweensaid one groove and the suction side of the pump chamber and thepressure slot register with the pressure side of the pump chamber, andwhen disposed in a reverse position between said faces and the rotor isdriven in the opposite direction to have the inlet port thereof registerwith and effect communication between the inlet duct and the othergroove in the element and also to have the suction slotregister with andeffect communication between said other groove and the suction side ofthe pump chamber and the pressure slot register with the pressure sideof said chamber, and means for by-passing fluid from the pressure sideof the pump chamber regardless of the position of the plate comprising agroove in each side of the plate.

MATTHEW w. HUBER.

